Inside a large franchise café near Sadang Station.
Oh Seung-heon and Kang Min-hyuk were sitting in a corner seat.
“Ah, so refreshing.”
Kang Min-hyuk was sucking down the largest size iced Americano through a straw.
“Yeah.”
Oh Seung-heon was slowly scooping up and eating his patbingsu.
At that moment, Seung-heon stole a glance at Min-hyuk and asked with a worried face.
“Kang Min-hyuk… is it really okay for me to be here?”
“I told you it’s fine.”
Min-hyuk shrugged his shoulders as he answered.
Just yesterday, when Kim Rok-hee texted him saying “Let’s do something fun,” Min-hyuk had made sure to ask.
[Me: I have a friend who draws comics too—okay if he comes along?]
At first, he had only brought it up because he wanted Seung-heon to make connections with other comic artists.
Just like in his past life, having few people around you who also drew comics made life as an artist much harder in many ways.
Knowing that, Min-hyuk wanted to create opportunities for Seung-heon to hang out with other comic artists whenever possible.
But the response after that…
Even Min-hyuk hadn’t expected it.
[Kim Rok-hee: Oh really? Then it’d be even better if he comes!! !@# Definitely bring him, definitely!]
[Me: But what exactly are we doing?]
[Kim Rok-hee: That’s a secret until you get here! It’s something your friend would probably be interested in too, so don’t worry—just make sure he comes!!]
Not only did Kim Rok-hee give permission—she practically begged him to bring Seung-heon along.
Min-hyuk glanced at Seung-heon and said,
“I told you it’s fine. From the way she reacted, she was actually welcoming you.”
“Hmmmmm… but why would she welcome me? My skills aren’t anything special, and she doesn’t even know who I am…”
Unlike his usual self, Seung-heon let out heavy sighs with a worried expression.
Min-hyuk understood.
He probably had some inferiority complex about his skill level… and the others all shared the common ground of being from Animation High.
Feeling like he was lagging behind in every way would naturally lead to that kind of reaction.
Well, Min-hyuk knew Kim Rok-hee’s personality well, so he wasn’t particularly worried.
Slurp.
At that moment, Min-hyuk popped an ice cube into his mouth and rolled it around.
The cold sensation cleared his mind, and he stared up at the ceiling, lost in thought for a moment.
‘Anyway… what exactly is she planning?’
He had already asked, but Kim Rok-hee refused to give any straight answers.
He had come because the idea of “something fun” sounded appealing…
But since the other party was that Kim Rok-hee, he honestly had no clue what kind of thing she might be up to.
‘Well, I’ll find out when we get there.’
Half anticipation, half worry.
At any rate, the vibe seemed like it would be something comic-related…
He could only hope Kim Rok-hee would actually deliver something good.
Right then, as if something occurred to him, Min-hyuk slapped the armrest and said to Seung-heon,
“Ah, just in case—don’t let it slip that I’m the artist of Brave King, okay?”
“Do we really have to hide it? If you just told everyone, wouldn’t you become super popular at Animation High?”
Do you think I’m a kid? Bragging about serializing a comic among high schoolers and getting all puffed up.
—He couldn’t actually say that out loud, since he really was just a high school first-year right now.
Min-hyuk let out a deep breath and waved his hand.
“Whatever. Just keep quiet about it.”
“Got it.”
Seung-heon furrowed his brow, then made a zipping motion across his lips with his finger.
How much time passed like that?
“Heyy, Min-hyuk-kun! Long time no see!”
“Hi! You’re early?”
“Yeah, about thirty minutes.”
From the café entrance, Oh Dong-gyo and Kim Rok-hee walked in side by side.
After exchanging greetings, the two went to the counter to order drinks and then came back to the table.
Kim Rok-hee smiled brightly and asked,
“So this is your friend?”
“Yeah, his name’s Oh Seung-heon!”
“I heard he draws comics—right?”
“Y-Yeah, I do draw… but I only just started, so my skills aren’t anything impressive. Haha!”
While Seung-heon scratched the back of his head with an embarrassed expression—
Point!
This time, Oh Dong-gyo extended his hand toward Seung-heon and said,
“I’m Oh Dong-gyo.”
“Ah, yeah. Same last name, huh?”
Seung-heon lifted the corner of his mouth, about to say something more, when Dong-gyo adjusted his glasses with one hand and added one more line.
“By the way, I’m Min-hyuk-kun’s desk mate and best friend. Hehe…….”
A voice laced with just a hint of smugness.
Perhaps sensing that subtle nuance,
Oh Seung-heon furrowed his brow slightly, then lifted the corner of his mouth and replied,
“Oh really? That’s interesting. I’ve known Kang Min-hyuk for seven years. Since ‘elementary school.’”
Squeeze.
The two gripped each other’s hands in a firm handshake.
‘Half a year at most, and you’re calling yourself best friends? What kind of best friend is that.’
‘Tch! Just because you’ve known someone longer doesn’t mean anything.’
For some reason, sparks seemed to fly between their eyes.
Meanwhile, the actual Kang Min-hyuk—
‘Why are they suddenly like this?’
—just tilted his head in confusion at the bizarre atmosphere flowing between the two.
‘Hmmmm… so they’re competing for the best friend spot. Best friend… very important.’
Kim Rok-hee nodded with her arms crossed, as if she fully understood the situation.
At that moment, Min-hyuk took another sip of his coffee and said,
“So, is everyone who’s coming here now?”
“No, there’s still one more person.”
“One more? Who?”
“Guess.”
When Rok-hee answered with a sly grin, Min-hyuk scratched his chin and spoke.
“Hmm… one person… the class president? Or Kang Chae-hyun?”
Naturally, the names of kids who were usually close to Kim Rok-hee came out.
Right then.
“No, it’s me.”
“Hm?”
A cold voice came from right beside him.
When he turned his head that way—
“Ah! What the—!”
Han Yu-ra was crouched down, staring straight at him.
Her face was so close that Min-hyuk jolted upright in surprise.
“Why are you so startled?”
“No, make some noise when you appear! Some noise!”
What kind of person sneaks up like an assassin…?
Han Yu-ra had a habit of erasing her presence so completely that she always startled him.
Min-hyuk let out a sigh and set his coffee down on the table.
At that, Rok-hee spread both arms toward Han Yu-ra with a bright smile and shouted,
“The final participant for today’s gathering has arrived—the grand prize winner of the Jump Comics New Artist Contest! Artist Han Yu-ra has graced us with her presence! Everyone, applause!”
“Ooooh! Omedetou!”
Clap clap clap!
Everyone gave light applause.
When the other customers’ eyes turned toward them, Han Yu-ra glanced around, furrowed her brow slightly, and sat down.
“Too loud. It’s not something worth bragging about.”
“It is worth bragging about! Why wouldn’t it be? It’s Jump Comics! One of Korea’s two major comic magazines!”
“Enough, be quiet.”
She said that, but…
For some reason, the corners of her mouth twitched, and a faint blush crept up her face.
It was kind of… like she was bad at expressing emotions.
Min-hyuk gave a small chuckle and said,
“Oh Seung-heon, this is Han Yu-ra. You roughly know her, right?”
Seung-heon’s mouth fell open as he stared straight at Han Yu-ra.
He looked half out of it.
The reason for this reaction was…
‘…Pretty.’
Like some celebrity.
He was simply stunned by Han Yu-ra’s striking appearance.
‘Why is he acting like this?’
Min-hyuk, who had no way of knowing the reason, furrowed his brow and asked,
“Oh Seung-heon?”
“…….”
“Oh Seung-heon. Come on, say hi.”
“Ahhh! Right, right—Artist Han Yu-ra! The one who won grand prize at the Animation High competition, draws comics insanely well! I really ad—no, respect you so much!”
Only then did he start babbling incoherently.
Min-hyuk sighed and explained to Han Yu-ra this time.
“This is Oh Seung-heon, my friend since we were little…”
“I know who he is.”
Yu-ra answered decisively.
“You know? How?”
“The one who drew Earth-Destroying Level Gag Impact, right? The same contest as me—he got an honorable mention. Lately… he’s been uploading to his personal blog and the challenge comic sections.”
“Huh? How do you know so much detail…?”
Seung-heon blinked in surprise and asked back. Yu-ra blinked once and answered.
“I like it.”
“Huh? Me?”
“Earth-Destroying Level Gag Impact.”
“Ahhh! I see!”
Only then did Seung-heon seem to snap out of it. He gave an awkward laugh and scratched the back of his head.
‘What’s wrong with this guy all of a sudden?’
Min-hyuk shook his head, then shifted his gaze back to Han Yu-ra.
‘Well, whatever… this is unexpected. Isn’t this the first time Han Yu-ra has openly said she likes a specific comic?’
And this was only the beginning.
“The way it deliberately dismantles context for the gags is what I like. Especially in episodes 2 and 3—it feels like it’s mocking the other side, right? It has that surreal Mahiru vibe but with a distinctly Korean flavor, which makes it unique. Especially the ‘Space Red Hare’ episode mentioned in episode 2…”
Han Yu-ra rattled off her evaluation of Oh Seung-heon’s work without even pausing for breath.
As she spoke, perhaps because the comic came to mind—
“Hup…!”
Every now and then, she looked like she was desperately holding back laughter.
Watching this bizarre yet strangely subtle scene, the same thought crossed everyone’s mind.
‘…Her tastes are… unique.’
Even those who had spent nearly half a year together at Animation High had barely scratched the surface of understanding Han Yu-ra…
At this point, it wasn’t that they hadn’t figured her out—her tastes were just so niche that they hadn’t shown on the surface.
And even more…
“By the way, you got a lot of comments on your blog too.”
“Oh—may I ask your username…?”
“YURA0095.”
“Ahhhh! So that was you! I thought that person had amazing gag sense—turns out it really was!”
Oh Seung-heon and Han Yu-ra started running wild with the conversation in their own way.
Watching them, the corners of Min-hyuk’s mouth lifted.
‘Well… it worked out. A bit different from what I expected, but still.’
Maybe people who love comics just click with each other—somehow, in the strangest way, they became close almost instantly.
“Ooh, I like Mahiru too. Hehe!”
From the middle onward, even Oh Dong-gyo joined the conversation, spouting off about gag comics…
And eventually, each of them began preaching their own unique gag philosophy(?).
The whole thing was spiraling out of control.
Clap clap!
At that moment, Kim Rok-hee clapped her hands and spoke.
“Alright alright, let’s wrap up that topic for now. Can we get to the main point soon?”
“Yeah.”
“…Ah, sorry!”
When all eyes turned to her at once, Rok-hee put on her signature serious expression and said,
“You guys… wanna do Comic Land together this time?”
“Huh? Comic Land?”
Everyone’s eyes widened like saucers.
Comic Land.
One of Korea’s largest doujin events for comics and anime.
Mainly held periodically at locations like Hakyeoul or Yangjae AT Plaza—a major comic festival.
With cosplay, long-form performances, anisong contests, booth sales of doujinshi and goods, and various other programs—it was a large-scale event.
Kang Min-hyuk, even in his previous life, had known about Comic Land’s existence and always wanted to go.
Well, various circumstances had made it ambiguous back then, so he never did.
Rok-hee continued.
“I originally booked a double booth at Comic Land with some friends.”
“And?”
“But they all bailed because they’re busy with entrance exams. So… I kind of need to fill the spot somehow.”
A faint mix of irritation and embarrassment appeared on Rok-hee’s smile.
The irritation was probably toward her friends who dropped out midway, and the embarrassment was directed at them.
Dong-gyo adjusted his glasses and asked,
“If that’s the case, can’t you just cancel?”
“Ah, the event’s too close now—if I cancel at this point, I’ll barely get any refund. So I figured… wouldn’t it be better to fill it with something instead of wasting it?”
Min-hyuk rubbed his chin and asked,
“I get the situation roughly. So… what exactly would we have to do?”
“Anything’s fine. You could draw a one-shot and make a doujinshi, or create some goods.”
“But we’ve never made products before?”
“Don’t worry about that. As long as you guys draw, I’ll handle all the rest—printing, everything. Just think of it as adding one more spoon to the table.”
Rok-hee answered confidently.
But faint worry appeared on everyone’s faces.
‘Will this mess up serialization prep?’
‘Can I keep drawing Earth-Destroying Level Gag Impact while doing this? Honestly, my skills are a bit lacking…’
‘Hmmmm… there are still so many comics and anime I haven’t watched yet.’
Each of them had their own reasons for feeling hesitant about their schedules, so no one answered readily.
Right then, Kang Min-hyuk raised his hand high and said,
“I’m in. This kind of thing… I’ve always really wanted to try it at least once.”
Confidence and anticipation were mixed on Min-hyuk’s face.
**************
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